The *Secret Spice* to a Fulfilling Life

Today, for most of us, is just another day: breakfast, work, dinner, maybe a show or two, shower, rinse and repeat.

It feels robotic and repetitive, like we’re puppets in the never-ending show of life. 

The puppeteer seems to be everyone else. Your boss, who just reminded you that your project is high priority so you really need to get the ball rolling. Your friend, who invited you to a glamping trip booking out your entire weekend. Your parents, who called again to tell you to book flights home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

There isn’t enough excitement, time, or money. At the same time though, life seems to be a series of uncontrollable events.

But that’s where you’re wrong.

The solution: more intention

Take the naggy boss as an example. Let’s say your intention for this job is to gain Android development experience to be able to one day independently build your own successful app. With strong intention and purpose, you’ll soon uncover the abundance of opportunities for learning and growth.

The best part is you now have a mutually beneficial relationship with your job. By working your best, you are inching closer to your goal of being a great Android developer and your company has the benefit of having a very productive worker. Your boss will notice the fire in your belly and will no longer be the one lighting it for you. As an added benefit, your energy and drive will help you stand out from your teammates and put you in a better position for promotion.

That’s an example of an ‘intention win-win’ situation. Let’s say instead your intention for this job is to work closely with your boss and learn from him. Instead, these last few weeks your boss hasn’t had time for you. He neglects your concerns when you bring this issue up to him. 

Instead of forcing yourself to create a new intention for this job, sometimes the best move is out! Some of us fail to realize that we’re stuck in a rut -- no matter how we spin the situation it’s never positive for us. An intention mismatch is a sign that something needs to change. 

A little backstory about me...8 years ago, I was having yet another sleepless night. Uneasy thoughts coupled with anxiety kept my mind stirring. Neither counting sheep nor another a dose of melatonin could calm my worries. You see, I was an overly stressed middle-school student, troubled with bullies, the pressure of a highly rigorous school, and time-sucking extracurriculars. 

I was stuck in a cycle, and I wanted to escape so badly. 

That night, I slipped out of bed and for the first time let my unfiltered thoughts spill onto a Word Document titled ‘Anna’. The document spanned countless pages, outlining my pains, what made me happy, what made me me. What I realized through the process of unleashing my jabbing thoughts and concerns was that I was losing myself -- in the midst of school commitments, parental pressure, and hurtful classmates. 

I determined that going forward, no matter what would happen in my life I would stay true to myself. To do so, I developed a strong sense of intention that I applied to every part of my life; the intricacies of that journey are a story for another time.

Now, I've cut my puppet strings and I am navigating my life

Through the twists and turns of the years leading up to today, I’ve discovered the following categories of life in which intention has GREATLY enhanced my overall well-being:

-- Mind, Health, Heart --

And for that reason, my blog will focus on those themes. Making your mind more efficient, your heart more open, your health less complicated, and so on!

PRE-WARNING:

Just as your quirks are different from mine and I have a freckle on the right side of my face that doesn’t match yours, I cannot and will not prescribe to you a “one-size-fits-all” solution for creating an intentional life. It’s just not possible. Building that desire is a very personal thing; however, I hope that my actions can inspire action in some of you. 

Why? What is my intention? (You know I have one)

At the end of the day, I want my footprint in this world to be helping others be better. That’s my burning passion -- to use my voice to empower and inspire others to be the best version of themselves. It doesn’t matter who you are. A kindergarten school teacher, a hardworking janitor, or an aspiring actress. We can all be better and live better.

Intention is a choice. What's yours?